The House of New Beginnings

by Lucy Diamond

  Lucy Diamond lives in Bath with her husband and their three children. She has written many bestselling novels, including The Secrets of Happiness, Summer at Shell Cottage and The Year of Taking Chances. When she isn’t slaving away on a new book (ahem) you can find her on Twitter @LDiamondAuthor.

  BY THE SAME AUTHOR

  Novels

  Any Way You Want Me

  Over You

  Hens Reunited

  Sweet Temptation

  The Beach Café

  Summer with My Sister

  Me and Mr Jones

  One Night in Italy

  The Year of Taking Chances

  Summer at Shell Cottage

  The Secrets of Happiness

  Novellas

  A Baby at the Beach Café

  Ebook novellas

  Christmas at the Beach Café

  Christmas Gifts at the Beach Café

  Acknowledgements

  It seems apt to be writing my thank-yous for The House of New Beginnings amidst a sea of boxes and packing tape – as we too are soon to be moving to a different home, for our own new beginning. Here’s hoping my next set of neighbours are as lovely as some of the characters in this book . . .

  New beginnings are all well and good but you can’t beat the satisfaction that comes from working with a great group of people over a number of years . . . and I couldn’t have a better team at Pan Macmillan. Thanks must go especially to Caroline Hogg, champion cheerleader and inspirational editor, who adds so much to every book of mine. Grateful thanks are also due to Anna Bond, Katie James, Alex Saunders, Jeremy Trevathan, Stuart Dwyer, Jo Thomson, Emma Bravo, Kate Bullows, Kate Tolley, Nicole Foster and the whole lovely lot of you.

  A huge round of applause for the whip-smart and fabulous Lizzy Kremer at David Higham Associates. Thank you for your creativity and insight, and for always telling it like it is. You’re a star.

  Massive thanks to Jo White and Kate Harrison for the Brighton love, pub tips and excellent nights out. Special thanks to the audience at Gateshead Library who were the first people to hear a section of this book and responded just as I’d hoped – thanks also for your title suggestions, which were greatly appreciated!

  Thanks and love to Martin, Hannah, Tom and Holly for constant support and their willingness to brainstorm plot ideas over the dinner table at the drop of a hat.

  Finally, thanks as ever to you for picking up this book to read. I really hope you enjoy it.

  First published 2017 by Macmillan

  This electronic edition published 2017 by Macmillan

  an imprint of Pan Macmillan

  20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR

  Associated companies throughout the world

  www.panmacmillan.com

  ISBN 978-1-4472-9913-4

  Copyright © Lucy Diamond 2017

  Cover illustration by Kate Forrester

  Author photograph © Alexander James

  The right of Lucy Diamond to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

  Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third-party websites referred to in or on this book.

  You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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